Cavs and Flashes of Hope Host “Big Shots & Little Stars” Fundraiser

The red carpet was rolled out, the stage was set and the fashion was fresh Thursday night at Quicken Loans Arena as the Cleveland Cavaliers and Lake Erie Monsters hosted the 4th Annual “Big Shots & Little Stars” fundraiser to benefit Flashes of Hope and the Children’s Tumor Foundation. The Willy Wonka-themed evening is expected to have raised more than $500,000.

Dressed to the nines, nothing was more breathtaking than the genuine excitement of both the “Big Shots” – Majority Owner and Chairman Dan Gilbert, Cavs and Lake Erie Monsters players and coaches and prominent Cleveland CEOs – and the “Little Stars” – children who have been affected by pediatric cancer – as they strutted their stuff on the runway.

“Every year this event gets bigger and better,” said Flashes of Hope founder Allison Clarke. “We appreciate the support of the Cavaliers organization and all the generous donors that make this event a success. It means the world to our organization and to each and every one of those kids on the runway.”

Olivier Sedra, most commonly known as the public address announcer at Quicken Loans Arena for Cavalier games, emceed the evening’s event, which featured cocktails, fabulous food, a silent auction and preshow entertainment by the Scream Team, Cavalier Girls and Monster Hockey Girls. The “Big Shots and Little Treasures” silent auction included autographed sports memorabilia and unique experience packages offered by the Cavaliers, Monsters, Horseshoe Casino, Kahalari Resorts, John Roberts Spa and many more. John Roberts also provided hair and makeup services to all Big Shots and Little Stars for the evening.

More than 1,000 guests attended the memorable occasion.

For more information on the event please visit cavs.com or lakeeriemonsters.com.

Flashes of Hope is a national nonprofit that changes the way children with cancer see themselves through the gift of photography and raises money for pediatric cancer research. Every month volunteers transform the outpatient clinics and hospital floors into professional photography studios. Families receive a generous portrait portfolio and a CD of all the images taken. All service are provided free of charge. Since its inception in 2001, Flashes of Hope has provided portrait packages to over 30,000 families all across the country! This year alone, over 7,000 children were photographed at camps across the country. Over 1.4 million dollars has been raised for cancer research. In 2013, Flashes of Hope will photograph 50% of the children annually diagnosed with cancer in 60 locations across the United States.

The Children's Tumor Foundation (CTF) is a non-profit medical foundation, dedicated to improving the health and well being of individuals and families affected by the neurofibromatoses (NF). The mission of CTF is to encourage and support research and the development of treatments and cures for neurofibromatosis types 1 and 2, schwannomatosis and related disorders. CTF support persons with NF, their families and caregivers by providing thorough, accurate, current and readily accessible information. CTF assists in the development of clinical centers, best practices and other patient support mechanisms to create better access to quality healthcare for affected individuals. As well as, expand public awareness of NF to promote earlier and accurate diagnoses by the medical community, increase the non-affected population's understanding of the challenges facing persons with NF, and encourage financial and other forms of support from public and private sources.